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The Supreme Court has sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Ejembi Ekwo, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Mr Lyon and issue a fresh one to the governorship candidate with the highest votes cast and wide geographical spread in the governorship election held on November 16, 2020.
The Apex Court sacked Lyon for presenting a running mate with a fake certificate in the said election.
With this judgment just delivered, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Diri Duoye with the highest lawful votes and with wide geographical spread will eventually become the next governor of Bayelsa.
Newspeakonline recalls that on Tuesday, the apex court affirmed Lyon, as the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election.
A five-man panel of the court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by Heineken Lokpobiri to challenge Lyon’s emergence as the winner of September 4, 2019 primary election of the APC, as lacking in merit.
Lyon’s victory on Tuesday was a pre-election victory as the Thursday judgement sacking him recognised him as the APC candidate. He was sacked for having an “invalid” running mate.